Rovert

My top 5 were: Harley StreetBob with the revised Hollywood handlebars Norton range of bikes on show - seem to be rather good by all accounts BMW R18 tourer - what a beautiful bike to do the distance Lambretta (obviously not Italian version) but they have captured the essence of the original scooter Suzuki Katana - so much of a replica of the original bike - looks great!

Certainly was a good show this year and most of the manufacturers were there for a change. Also, good to see how the bike industry is changing and seem to be giving more to the customers in the way of what they want rather than what they think you want. The styles are changing to a better direction of more usable bikes to cater for the changing market demands. Something for everyone in my opinion!

So who wears what? (keep it clean - what you do at the weekend is your choice) :-) Full face, open face, German helmet? Leather jacket, textiles, t-shirt shorts and flip-flops ? Enduro, short, long boots?

There is a huge amount of kudos for anyone who can find something that brings them pleasure and relief from the drudgery that life can present on a daily basis. As soon as you throw your leg over the bike, fire it up and ride to somewhere, anywhere! That's when life really goes from bad to good in just a few miles when you can feel free of the boundaries that restrict us all in life. Then you can just relax and enjoy the ride, the views, fresh air....and just about everything positive that comes from riding a motorcycle. Never ride angry or aggressive as this only leads to poor decisions and ones that could turn to a nasty conclusion. Enjoy the moment for what it is and the more miles you ride the more the problems you were harbouring are pushed into the background (albeit sometimes temporarily). It has certainly helped me so much over the years and I have never regretted riding motorbikes, scooters, and just about anything with two wheels and an engine.

Well a massive jump back to when I was young....I bought a Vespa from the year 2000. Vespa PX200 with a 150cc engine and big bore kit to 177cc and lots of things to make it look good :-) This jump back in time is quite a revelation to how hard it was to even start it let alone ride it ! A good old fashion 2-stroke engine with a kickstart and 4 gears manually shifted on the left hand grip. Wow! I'd forgotten everything in forty something years....how to measure the premix oil, get the choke on (and held in place with a clothes peg), how to kickstart it without flooding the engine and the list goes on. However, I have to say it is an absolutely fun bike to ride, given its low height and weight and every ride seems like it takes me back to when I was a Mod on my way to Brighton for a Bank Holiday punch up :-) The brakes combined with the small wheels are amazingly severe (front disc setup) and trying not to throw it on the floor if you dare apply the front brake when on the slippery stuff. The engine sounds like it wants to deliver power and please you at the same time with immense acceleration - on the fence on this one as the speedo is in kilometres and you really don't have a good perspective of speed when you're hanging on trying not end up in someones front garden. Plenty of storage and racks, etc to go on a shopping trip and leg shields that do offer some protection from the elements I suppose. Got to say, it is an iconic bike and sits in the same stable as my Harley StreetBob - chalk and cheese as one passer-by recently remarked. But in reality the Vespa handles and stops better than the Harley ! In conclusion, I am very happy with my departure from the motorbikes I have ridden for years which seemed to be getting more powerful, heavier and taller with many more complicated electronics that you mostly don't need to then jumping on a bike that weighs around 65kg and has a top speed of just over 55mph.....but its bloody great fun !

Restoration of Honda XL600 gallery

Came across this piccy of a rather fine bike from a great era for off road bikes. Restored one a few years ago and one bike worth hanging onto.

Comedian Ross Noble says riding a motorbike does more for his mental health than a therapist ever could. “Putting a helmet on is one of the few things that makes you really concentrate and keeps you present,” the 49-year-old told the Full Chat podcast. “On a motorway you go past a truck and get the wobble, or on a country lane you round a bend and there’s a crack in the tarmac or some leaves. Your brain is constantly making these decisions… Motorbikes are brilliant for working out your sh-t.” Noble, who has just begun his Cranium of Curiosities tour, said riding gives him the focus mindfulness apps can’t. “If I’m looking at the view, my head is somewhere else… On a bike, the noise is still happening but it’s pushed to the side because you’re actively riding.” “There’s an idea that motorbikes are a macho and tough guy thing,” he added, “but from a mental health point of view, you can read 100 self-help books and it won’t be as helpful. I would say it’s cheaper to buy a motorbike than it is to go and visit a therapist on a regular basis.” Courtesy of Facebook - British Comedy Classics group page

You never saw the amount of old imperial tools I had as that was all I was using until we started seeing Renaults and the like coming in from Europe with metric size fasteners and then had to start a new collection of spanners, sockets, etc Don't forget also the collection of 'bed' spanners (Whitworth, BA, etc) which were so chunky and took up valuable space in the tool box

Wondering what the benefits of these mounts are (apart from eliminating the death wobble) ?